Roses - Should I Prune Again?

TimmyMagic

I pruned these two roses in the winter to about knee to hip height. They've recently put on a lot of new growth but I'm concerned they are getting too tall. I remember last summer the stems were not strong enough to hold some blooms and they flopped a bit, which wasn't a good look. I thought my pruning in winter would have been enough... but should I cut them down a bit again so they bush out a bit? Or is this a big no no? I do not know the variety.

Helix

Generally it’s not a good idea to nibble away at plants.   You could prune it back now, but likely to loose flowers as a result, and probably won’t break from lower down either. Next winter take a long look at each one.  If there are one or two very old shoots then take them out completely, and prune the rest hard.   Oh, and when you deadhead do cut back to a proper leaf.

TimmyMagic

Helix said:

Generally it’s not a good idea to nibble away at plants.   You could prune it back now, but likely to loose flowers as a result, and probably won’t break from lower down either. Next winter take a long look at each one.  If there are one or two very old shoots then take them out completely, and prune the rest hard.   Oh, and when you deadhead do cut back to a proper leaf.

Okay, thanks.

This is not a great photo, but here they are after pruning on 31st January:


I thought this was quite a hard prune... but obviously not.

Allotment Boy

The harder you prune the more they will grow as they still have a big root system & the plant is trying to re- balance itself. Feed with a high potash, low nitrogen feed so you don't get too much lush growth. 

TimmyMagic

Allotment Boy said:

The harder you prune the more they will grow as they still have a big root system & the plant is trying to re- balance itself. Feed with a high potash, low nitrogen feed so you don't get too much lush growth. 

I fed all the roses in the garden (have more than 10) with a rose feed from Wilko about 2 weeks ago. This one:

https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/wilko-rose-food-15kg/p/0274759

That was my first time ever feeding roses so I hope I didn't go overboard.

Eglantyne said:

Hard to tell from the photo but they look like hybrid teas? If so, you prune those down a lot more,  4-6” from the base.  Weak shoots you can take even further, 2-4”.  

Okay. So you mean in the winter, right? Here are some more photos, if it helps identify them..

Rose A:





Rose B:

Borderline

They don't look like they need pruning now. Some roses grow tall and upright when the buds start forming. When you dead-head, try to wait for a group to die off and then prune right down to the next set of five leaves. That will keep them quite compact.

TimmyMagic

Eglantyne said:

[..]You could put a tripod of stout poles around each one, and tie the stems in.  They might even be climbers, did you plant them or a previous owner?

I have some poles and bamboo canes so will add support. This morning a neighbour also said they may be climbers. My mum would have planted them, but she passed away in September. 

Borderline said:

[..]When you dead-head, try to wait for a group to die off and then prune right down to the next set of five leaves. That will keep them quite compact.

Thanks. I will remember to do this!

TimmyMagic

Well I thought I'd post an update. I did not prune them (thank god!) and they are both blooming marvelously. I put stakes in and tied quite a few of the stems with twine. 

Here's a couple of recent photos:




Thanks for the advice.

Oh and whilst weeding the other day I found the original label for the white rose. It is called 'Prosperity' and is a 'Hybrid Musk'. 

LisaJ73

Ooh, that's gorgeous!

Flinster

@Marlorena May be able to ID for you!

Beautiful colour!

Marlorena

...your orange/pink rose is 'Westerland'... and you should give it some support and grow as a climber, as that is what it wants to do..
..as they've done in this photo here..

https://www.helpmefind.com/rose/l.php?l=21.314454